Men called on to support cancer awareness race

At one of the Mother City's most iconic races, at a time when the country is commemorating Women's Day celebrations, the few men who ran the race called on male athletes to support it..

Organisers said the Totalsports Women’s Race (TWR), which took place on Friday August 9, in the Cape Town CBD, attracted a record 12 500 runners this year, 2 500 more than last year.

Racer, Xolisa Zaleni from Site C, Khayelitsha, said the race is about supporting women and cancer. He said he was happy to take part and said women’s athletics needed support.

“I am disappointed that men are not putting this race down in their calendars. These are our women and we should always support them. Above all there is the PinkDrive that has been vocal about cancer. For us to defeat cancer, we have to work together. Cancer has ravaged us all, men and women, so we need to be part of this race,” he said.

Mr Zaleni said he would run the race as long he lives.

Another male runner who took part, Nkosiyabo Ngqebe from Mfuleni, said he was bitterly disappoineted that men do not support the race.

“We need to continue to support this race. Although it is run on Women’s Day, this is not about women but about good health, about conquering cancer. That makes the race better for me than other races that we run. I want to appeal to male runners and those who do not run to change their minds and be part of this race, ” he said.

His views were supported by another runner, Simphiwe Nkonzo of Philippi, who said had it not been for PinkDrive and its intention to fight cancer maybe he would not have been part of the TWR.

“Who wins the race for me doesn't matter. What matters is the aim of the race. This is the best race to run. Cancer is our enemy that we should fight at all costs. Big up to the organisers and their good intentions. This is not a money making race but a valuable one for us all. I would plead with my fellow male runners to be a part of it,” he concluded.

Event manager Nicola Martin said the race is about celebrating women's support of the PinkDrive too. She said on National Women’s Day, the participants took to the streets of Cape Town to celebrate women and support PinkDrive.

“It's been an amazing celebration of women who came out to the streets of Cape Town. We are passionate about women. It is amazing to see all the women in PinkDrive. Men should come to support the women. Women have always supported men. They need to come support their wives, their daughters,” she said. Ms Martin said she was happy that the race is growing and next year they might look for a bigger space to run.

This year's winner was Kenya's Christine Njoki claiming her second TWR victory after winning the one in Durban the week before.